I am redoing the bushings on the front suspention I am having a dificult time getting the bushings out of the upper control arm so i can pull everything apart. I have tried burning the rubber so that it can reduce the tension with no luck. Any tips? This is on a 69 Cutlass S.

 

If its giving you a hard time I just burn the rubber completely out then cut notches into the bushing sleeve and it will fall out.

Make sure you can get the correct size bushings first though as some people have had a hard time getting the correct size from local parts places.

 

Get an upper control arm bushing removal tool. Looks like a balljoint press w/ a fork at the top to go around your crossshaft.

http://www.amazon.com/Astro-Pneumati.../dp/B00061SGOU

If you look in my suspension project in the Proejcts Forum, i have a photo of that tool being used to press out the bushings.

They came out and went back in like butter.

 

Make sure you get bushings first and match them up before you remove them. ^^^^^^ Happened to me.

 

here is a better pic of the upper control arm bushing tool... Note the forked end that goes over the cross shaft.

I was able to rent mine at a local autoparts store (free rental) but they were eliminating that line... YOu might check tool/equipment rental shops around you.

 

Yeah, burn it some more. A propane torch works, it just takes time. The rubber needs to be burned completely out of the sleeve. Once it is, smash the sleeve with a hammer and chisel and it falls out. Hint: Be sure the shaft is in place BEFORE pressing the new bushings into the arm.

 

An air chisel will zip them out quickly

 

i got the same issue right now on my 63 dynamic 88. the lowers were no problem but ppers are also hard to get ot and the part might be hard to find

 

The notching idea and alot of elbow gease worked for me when I went through that, alot of people said how easy the replacement was....as long as you have a big enough press! Beware when you torque the arms back on if you are not replacing the cross shafts. My bushing jumped the shoulder on the shaft and split the collar on the new bushing.